The Bears waive QB Jimmy Clausen

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The Chicago Bears announced today that they have waived back-up QB Jimmy Clausen and promoted QB David Fales from the practice squad. Head coach John Fox said the move was promoted by interest in Fales from an unnamed team. The Bears promoted Fales to the active roster to keep another team from signing him and that led to Clausen’s release.

The interested team is rumored to be the Ravens who just lost Joe Flacco for the season and have only one quarterback, Matt Schaub, on their roster. The Ravens also have Marc Trestman as their offensive coordinator who was the Bears head coach when they drafted Fales in the 6th round last year. The Patriots were rumored to have interest in Fales earlier this season, but they seem set at QB with Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo who they drafted in the 2nd round last year.

Clausen made two appearances for the Bears this season completing 23 of 40 passes for 189 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He made one start for the Bears in their 26-0 loss to the Seahawks. In that game he went 9/17 for just 63 yards in one of the worst offensive performances in recent Bears history. The Bears had only 146 total yards, just seven first downs, and punted on all ten of their offensive possessions with Clausen at QB. He performed better in his one start in 2014, throwing for two touchdowns in a 20-14 loss to the Detroit Lions.

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The Bears new management team has made an effort to get younger on both sides of the ball and they apparently saw more potential in the 25-year-old Fales than the 28-year-old Clausen. Coach Fox mentioned wanting to get a better look at the young players on the roster in his press conference today and also said the Bears will be looking for a developmental QB to replace Fales on the practice squad.

Fales has yet to take a snap in an NFL game, but was very impressive during the Bears 4th preseason game against the Browns. He went 14/18 for 131 yards and two touchdown passes but was still beat out by the more experienced Clausen for the backup QB job. Fales probably won’t see the field much as long as Jay Cutler is healthy, but the Bears may try to get him some snaps later in the season to determine if he’s backup material for 2016.

In an unrelated and somewhat surprising roster move, the Bears terminated the contract of cornerback Terrance Mitchell, a former 7th round pick by the Cowboys in 2014. Mitchell was one of the Bears best corners this preseason and had appeared in five games for the Bears earlier this season. In a corresponding move the Bears promoted rookie corner back Jacoby Glenn to the active roster. Mitchell is eligible for the Bears practice squad if he’s not claimed by another team.